Hi everyone, I have been thinking about the Disney debate... Although Randi Zimmerman mentioned that the original story for "The Little Mermaid" was by Hans Christian Anderson, there has been no connection between the film and the original story. We can all agree that the film was a sanitised, up-dated, version. What alarms me is that its message was even more negative from a feminist point of view than the original, in which the mermaid goes through agony to become human, her feet bleeding with each step, and mute (having sold her tongue (voice) to the witch). Her reward for this was to be ostracised and the Prince marry another. In the end she throws herself back into the sea and dies. The message (even with the misogyny) is that changing yourself for someone else is dangerous, and probably futile. This has to be better lesson for our children than that of the film with the conventional message of love depending on appearance/demeanour (designed for a male). Disney perpetuates the (Mattel) Barbie Doll-version of woman-hood even though its hero-whines may be becoming more "spirited" or "eco-conscious". As an aside, if your children are watching these movies, watch them with them! If things are explained at the time of wondering, not after the images have been distorted by time, then at least there is a greater chance of counter-acting any damage. By the way, thanks to J. Ashmore for the poem, it cracked us up! Annette [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Feb 14 05:47:35 1998 Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 07:47:32 -0500 (EST) From: "Vera M. Britto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Information on FEMISA Also be aware that FEMISA is a moderated list, and the quality of moderation varies greatly, meaning that the criteria for what is posted is quite flaky. I've had more than a few posts that deal with globalization rejected by the moderators, and although one could make an argument the talking about transnational dynamics that involve in some ways women is not exactly "international relations", that is baseless when compared to one of the moderators wish to launch a discussion on sadomasochism on the list. and this was not in a joking or metaphorical context. when I asked the moderator why they were trying to discuss sadomasochism on FEMISA at the same time that they censored posts on globalization, i was told, "because i find the subject interesting. period" that's the quality of moderation on FEMISA. what gets posted depends on the whims (sadomasochistic, perhaps ? :-) of the moderators and not so much with the stated purpose of the list. Vera Britto ([EMAIL PROTECTED] - http://www.umich.edu/~fiatlux) ............................................................................. Le Bret: Si tu laissais un peu ton ame mousquetaire, la fortune et la gloire... Cyrano: Et que faudrait-il faire? Chercher un protecteur puissant, prendre un patron, et, comme un lierre obscur que circonvient un tronc et s'en fait un tuteur en lui lechant l'ecorce, grimper par ruse au lieu de s'elever par force? Non, merci! Non, merci! Non, merci! Mais... chanter, rever, rire, passer, etre seul, etre libre... oui. "Cyrano de Bergerac" - Edmond Rostand
